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Posted: 9:47 PM- "American Idol" sensation David Archuleta is coming home.
Murray City is throwing a homecoming party Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Murray High School's football field for the 17-year-old crooner, who is poised to be one of the finalists in the hit Fox competition show.
David is then scheduled to sing the national anthem at the Utah Jazz playoff game later that night at the Energy Solutions Arena.
"Who wouldn't be thrilled to have this type of talent in their city, and he represents Murray City very well," said Murray Mayor Dan Snarr, who is coordinating the pep rally with the Murray School District and the city's Chamber of Commerce. "You won't find a more caring person. That is what a true American idol should be."
If David becomes one of the three finalists in this season's competition, footage of the rally will be shown on the penultimate episode next week. One of the four final contestants, who also include David Cook, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado, will be booted in the results show tonight (8 p.m. on KSTU Channel 13).
Meanwhile, Murray officials have been feverishly planning the event at the school, 5440 S. State St., on short notice since they received a call from the Fox network Friday that the show's producers wanted to film the contestants at their hometown rallies.
"We're making sure we're prepared and for everyone involved to make it in a grand way," Snarr said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
The festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. with the school's cheerleaders and choir - David was a member - performing for the crowd.
The singer arrives at 4:15 p.m., when he will parade around the football field along with Utah dignitaries, including Snarr and the Murray City Council.
David is expected to sing a few songs for the crowd and will be presented with a gift basket by the mayor.
"We're open to everybody, and we let people in and out, so they don't need a key," Snarr quipped.
Organizers expect as many as 20,000 people could show up Friday. While parking is available around the school and at the county ice complex across State Street, Snarr is encouraging people who want to attend to use TRAX and get off at the station near the new Intermountain Medical Center.
David is also tentatively scheduled to appear Friday morning at the AT&T store at the Gateway Mall in downtown Salt Lake City at 160 S. Rio Grande where he also might sign autographs.
"Part of the planning is whether he makes it through Wednesday night [on the results show]," said AT&T spokesperson Vanessa Smith.
Family friend Brett Hales said David arrives from Los Angeles Thursday, where he has been living since being named one of the 24 finalists, and is expected to return there - if he is still on the show - Saturday morning.
Since the beginning of the show's seventh season in late January, the Murray High School junior has not only survived on the No.1-rated show but has become one of the most popular contestants this year.
Prognosticators already have predicted that David will be in the finale with Missouri rocker David Cook for the title of "American Idol."
Hales, who visited the Murray teen in L.A. about a month ago, said David was enjoying the experience without worrying about winning the contest until recently. His mother told Hales that David has become more confident over time.
"She said this is the first time she ever heard him say, 'I want to be in the top three,' " Hales said. "He's really starting to feel it. His drive really kicked in."